Lifting plug and wrench therefor



' April 7, 1942.

.1. c. FORTUNE ET/XL LIFTING PLUG AND WRENCH THEREFOR 4 Filed Feb. 19, 1940 Jam; C/Zrlune z'mron K457292071.

. INVENTOK Patented Apr. 7, 1942 Houston, Tex., assignors'to Reed Roller Bit -Tex'., a corporation of Company, Houston,

Texas Application February 19, 1946, sria 1%.319576 2 Claims. (01. 255-35) 7 This invention relates to a device adapted to beused in handling pipe and has forits general object the provision of a means for use with external flush pipe for lifting the same, together with a means for securing it to and removing it from such pipe. V I

Th6 particular pipe to which this invention is applicable is known as flush joint drill pipe. Itis used in making up drill stems Whichare free from projecting collars or tool joints of larger diameter than the drill pipe itself.

In handling ordinary drill pipe or other pipe havingcollars or joints; of larger diameter than the pi e itself, it is customary to 1m thepipe by means of a so-called elevator or split collar which is secured around the pipe below such a collar or joint and then lifted into engagement with the collar or joint. The pipe may then be lifted by means of such elevator.

When flush joint pipe is used, there is of course no shoulder against which such an elevator can operate and it is necessary in lifting the pipe either to employ a device having gripping teeth which dig into the metal of the pipe itself or to provide some member which may be secured to the upper end of the pipe and which will project laterally beyond the outer contour of the pipe to provide a lifting shoulder against which the elevator may engage. The use of gripping dogs or slips is detrimental to the pipe in that it mars the surface of the pipe and is for that reason undesirable. The use of lifting plugs or members to be attached to the upper end of the pipe to provide a shoulder for engagement by the elevator is undesirable because of the time and effort required in securing such plugs to and removing them from the pipe.

It is, therefore, a more specific object of this invention to provide a lifting plug which may be easily and quickly attached to or removed from a pipe and to provide a means for use in such attachment or removal.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for the purpose set forth which is simple in construction and easily and cheaply manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type set forth which will not wear substantially in use and which will for that reason have a long life.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description wherein is set forth one embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view m stratmg inlongitudinal cross section the upper end of sectionofpipe having -a lifting device constructed in accordance with this invention secured thereto and showing in elevation 'the means for attachin and removing suchlifting device. V

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a view in enlarged perspective illustrating the lifting device shown in Fig. 1 secured to the upperend-of section of pipe.

Inthe drawing the numeral l indicates the upper end of section of conventional-flush joint drill pipe, As illustrated, this. section is pro: vided with an internally threaded zone 2 at; its upper end. Inaccordance with this invention there is provided 'a plug 3 which in the present instance has an externally threaded pin portion 4 adapted to engage with the threads 2 on the drill pipe. This member also has a laterally projecting flange 5 providing a downwardly facing shoulder 6 adapted to, receive an elevator in a well known manner.

In order to avoid the necessity for the use of tongs or the like in securing this plug to and removing it from the drill pipe, the plug is provided with projections l on its upper end. In this instance these projections are four in number although it will be appreciated that [various numbers of projections may be employed. These projections are separated by open spaces 8 and on their inner surfaces they are taperedas shown at 9. The member employed in securing the lifting plug just described to a drill pipe and in removing it therefrom consists of an elongated member providing arms [0 and l I having weights [2 and I3 at their outer ends. Midway between the weights l2 and I3 is a circular enlargement M in which is mounted a guide element extending both upwardly and downwardly from the enlargement M.

The arms [0 and II are preferably of somewhat less width than the openings 8 between the projections 1 and are adapted to enter between said projections as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to reduce the possible friction in the contact between these arms and the upper surface of the plug in the openings 8, the arms are provided with small projections It, which rest on these surfaces.

The tool just described is reversible and may be used either side up. The arms ID and II together with the weights l2 and I3 may be used as handles. It will readily be seen that in se-' curing plug 3 to a section of pipe, the plug will be placed in the upper end of the section of pipe by hand and rotated to start the threads. The tool just described may then be placed in position as shown in Fig. 1 and rotated to tighten the plug 3. When the plug stops rotatin due to the full engagement of the threads, the threads may be tightly engaged by rotating the tool backwarda distance equalto the width of the openings 8 and then rotating it forward again with a hammering action. The tool may then be readily lifted out and the ployed in the usual manner. I f

The plugs 3 may be removed. by

loosening the plug. It may thusbe readily simply re; versing the operation just] described. The wrench or removing toollis'placed'in position 2,279,118 fore to be understood as referring to any mem- 10 elevator em ber whether employing a male connection or a female connection which may be secured to the upper end of a section of pipe for use in lifting same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a means has been provided whereby all the objects and advantages sought by this invention may be obtained.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. In combination, a lifting plug having upstanding projections on its head and an opening through its center between said projections and 15' y g V v comprising a barof a size to fit between said loosened and removed, whereupon itwill be stacked until again needed, V 7

It will be seen that the guide I5-willact'with the tapered inner surfaces 9 of the projections I in facilitating the placing of the tool upon the plug and 'that'thereafter this guide will-retain the tool in proper position for its operation during the insertion or removal of theplug.

It will be appreciated that this invention is not limited to the use of a plughavlng'a male or external-thread such as that shown in the drawing, but that, this invention relates particularly to theconstruction of the plug and the tool for attaching and removing it whereby the plug may be easily and quickly attached and removed. The term plug as used in this application and in the accompanying claims is there- "longitudinally of said plug, and means for turning. s'aid plug, to attach 'or remove the same projections, and a guide carried by said bar and projecting'from the opposite sides thereof atts ubstantially right angles to said bar and adapted to extend'into said opening to maintain said barin proper position with respect to said plug, so that said bar may be used either side'up on-said plugs r i 2. -A device for attaching andremoving a lift ing plug comprising a bar having spaced, weighted portions and an intermediate part adapted to fitQa-part of said lifting plug, and a guide on said I intermediate partand projecting 'in oppositedirection' therefrom to engage a part of said plug and maintain said bar in proper position thereon, whereby 'saidbar may be engaged-"with the said plug with either portion of said guide engaging said plug.

" r l Y JAMES C. FORTUNE.

ROBINSON W. BROWN. 

